Reversible propeller.



EATENTED DEG. 18, 1906.

W. C. EISGEEE. REVERSIBLE PEOPELLER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

an. D. c.

NoRms P: rens c y PATENTED DEG. 18, 1906. W. G. FISCHER.

REVERSIBLE PROPELLER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET. 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

l/VILLIAM CHARLES FISCHER, OF HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ElGHTY-FIVE ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO MAURICE LACHMAN, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

REVERSIBLE PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

To all whoml t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CHARLES FISCHER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Huntington, Long Island, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Propellers, of which the following is a speciiication accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to reversible propellers, although the mechanical principles upon which the invention is based may be used in any connection in which they are applicable.

The objects of the invention are to improve upon the construction and operation of such propellers and enable the propeller-blades to be reversed readily and easily without sticking and jamming of the parts.

Other objects of the invention are to increase the etficiency of operation of such propellers, secure increased strength and durability ofthe parts, which are not liable to get out of order in the operation of the apparatus, and decrease wear.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear; and to these ends the invention consists of apparatus for carrying out the above objects embodying the Jfeatures of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts having the general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed in this specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of apparatus embodying the invention with one of the propeller-blades removed. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the head of the propeller. Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view, partly in section, of the propeller-head on the line a b of Fig. 1, partly broken away. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are enlarged detail side elevations of variations in the construction of the cam-slots of the reversing-gear. Fig. 8 is a face view of the end of one of the propeller-blades, showing the projections thereon.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the continuously-revolving propeller-shaft adapted to be driven from any suitable engine, and B represents the line of the stern of the boat,

to which the stuihng-b 0X C is suitably secure df Around the shaft A in this instance is shown a sleeve B, extending through the stuffingboX C and movable longitudinally on the shaft, but rotatable therewith.

In this instance a propeller is shown having four blades D, although any desired number of blades may be used in carrying out this invention. The blades D are rotatably held in the casing E and are constructed to engage a block F, suitably secured to the shaft A, on which block the casing E slides longitudinally, thereby reversing the blades D or moving them into the central position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In accordance with this invention the block F, which is preferably solid, is provided with cam-slots, into which extend followers on the body or base portions of the propeller-blades D. The blades are each provided in this instance with three projections or followers 1, 2, and 3, and each face of the block F is provided with three cam-slots 4, 5, and 6, adapted to coperate, respectively, with the pins or projections l, 2, and 3. By moving the sleeve B and propeller-casingE longitudinally it will be seen that the angle of the blades D will be varied and cause the boat to go ahead or backward or remain stationary, as desired.

The relative arrangement of the slots 4, 5, and 6 may be varied 'without departing from the invention. For instance, in Fio'. 1 the slot 4 is shown substantially vertica or arallel to the ends of the block F, while the s ots 5 and 6 are shown at an angle to each other and to the general direction of the slot 4. The slots 5 and 6, as shown, are not symmetrical, nor do they need to be symmetrical, but may be dierentially drawn, as shown, and produce the desired results, depending upon the relative position of the three pins 1, 2, and 3 and also upon the angle of the slot 4 relatively to the sides or vends of the block F. In Figs. 4 and 7 the pins 1, 2, and 3 are spaced equally around the circumference of the circular end of the blade D, which circumference is divided into three parts, and the camslot 4 in Fig. 4 is set at a slight angle to the sides of the block F. According to this construction the slots 5 and 6 take the form shown in order to properly guide the pins 2 and 8. In Fig. 7 the slot 4 is set at a greater angleto the sides of the block F, and in this instance the slots 5 and 6 take the form shown and are not as long as those in Fig. 4.

IOO

` In Figs. and 6 the distorted forms of camslots illustrated in said figures are formed in the block F in order to properly guide the pins, which are spaced irregularlyin the end of the blade D.

One of the great advantages of the construction described resides in the fact that very strong leverage is secured in order to turn the blades D readily and quickly, It will be seen that the pins l, 2, and 3 are formed uponthe anges G of the ends of the blades D, so that a turning moment equal to the radius of the circular end of the blade is obtained. Since there are three bearings between the cam-slots and the followers or projections, there will not be as much wear and tear on the gear as in constructions in which less bearing-surface is afforded and the tendency to stick and jam is obviated, because of the great leverage provided.

The blades D are preferably made solid, and the casing E is preferably made in four parts or sections 7, 8, 9, and l0, suitably recessed to receive the throats or body portions H and flanges G of the blades, thereby enabling the blades to be assembled with the pins in the proper slots, and then the sections of the casing E are arranged in proper position and suitably secured together, as by means of the cap I, having screw-threads cooperating with screw-threads on the casing and cover J, also screw-threaded to "the casing. Suitable screws K secure the cover J to the casing, and in order to aid in securing the sections of the casing together split collars L are provided upon the body portions H of the blades, suitably secured to the casing, as by means of the screwsO.

The sleeve B is suitably screw-threaded to the cover J, and the endlD of the sleeve is split and provided with a split ring Q, suitably secured thereto, as by solder or brazing, Vand provided with a tapered screw-threaded portion R, over which lits the screw-threaded nut S to securely clamp the parts together.

The stuffing-box C may be of any suitable construction, and suitable means are provided for shifting the sleeve B longitudinally in this instance, said sleeve being provided with a grooved collar T, suitably secured to the sleeve, as by means of the set-screws U. In the collar is arranged a ring V, within which the collar turns, said ring being secured to a lever-arm W, pivoted at X, vby means of which the sleeve may be shifted.

Obviouslyv some features of this invention may be used without others, and the invention may be embodied in widely-varying forms.

Therefore, without limiting the invention to the devices shown and described and without enumerating equivalents, I claim, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, the following:

l. In a reversible propeller, the combination with the propeller-shaft, of a block secured thereto having a plurality of cam-slots on each of its faces, said cam-slots being disposed at different angles to the path of movement of said block, propeller-blades having followers in the form of pins projecting into said slots, means for holding said propellerblades against said block, and means for causing relative movement between the camslots and the followers., thereby shifting the angle of the propeller-blades.

2. In a reversible propeller, the combination with a propeller-shaft and propellerblades, of a movable block connected to the propeller-shaft, a plurality of cam-slots in each of the faces of said block, said cani-slots being disposed at different angles to the path of movement of said block, a plurality of pins on the bases of each of said propeller-blades, saidl pins forming followers adapted to enter the cam-slots, and means for causing relative movement between said slots and their followers, thereby shifting the angleof the blades.

3. In a reversible propeller, the combination with a propeller-shaft, of a casing movable relatively thereto, a block connected to the shaft within said casing, propeller-blades carried by the casing and each provided with a plurality of pins projecting inwardly from the body portions of the blades, a plurality of cam-slots on the faces of said block, said cam-slots being disposed at different angles to the path of movement of said block in which the pins or followers project, and means for shifting the casing relatively to the block whereby the angle ofthe propellerblades is changed.

4. In a reversible propeller, the combination with a continuously-revolving propellershaft having a block secured thereto, provided with three cam-slots on each of at least two of its faces, said cam-slots being disposed at different angles to the path of movement of said block, a casing surrounding said block and adapted to be moved longitudinally of the propeller-shaft, propeller-blades carried by said casing and each provided withv three pins forming followers projecting from the inner ends of the blades intov the slots in the faces of the block whereby when the casing is shifted longitudinally the angle ofthe blades is changed.

5'. In a reversible propeller having propeller-blades, a continuously-revolving propeller-shaft and a block connected tov said shaft, provided with cam-slots on its faces, said cam-slots being disposed at different angles to the path of movement of said block, of means on the propeller-blades cooperating with said slots whereby the angle of theblades may be changed as desired.

6. In a reversible propeller, the combination with a continuously-revolving propellerlOO IIO

ISO

shaft, of a block secured to the end thereof having three differentially-spaced slots on each of at least two of its faces, a casing sur rounding said block, propeller-blades secured against said block by said casing and adapted to revolve thereon as well as rotate with the propeller-shaft7 each of said blades being provided with three pins projecting inwardly from the bases of the blades into the three slots on the block, and means for shifting said casing longitudinally of the block, thereby changing the angle of the blades as desired.

7. In a reversible propeller, the combination with a propeller-shaft and a block secured to the end thereof, of a casing sure rounding the block and adapted to be moved longitudinally of said shaft, propeller-blades WILLIAM CHARLES FISCHER.

Vitnesses:

JOHN MATZ, THOMAS A. CALLAHAN. 

